Ambassadors are going on their twelfth year of being part of the Leadership Academy at Fossil Ridge High School. Since they can remember, they have wanted to create a Peer Center in hopes of creating a space for students who are feeling overwhelmed.

During this school year, the Ambassadors got their final push when they received a grant from the district. This allowed them to go to the administration and present their idea without asking for financial support.

Senior Zaelyn Harding is in her second year as the Mental Health and Peer Support Committee Head. Harding says that the motivation behind the conversion of the wellness center stemmed from, “being able to have a set-in-stone location.”

School counselor Matt Murphy elaborates on how peer support programs around the state have influenced them. Murphy teaches ambassadors alongside fellow counselor Hailey Swanbom. 

“Now that we have access to a space like now we can actually try and grow that program where we haven’t been able to do that before,” Murphy said.

One of the main concerns of the committee is that students and peers will be insecure about opening up to someone who might not seem qualified to take on their problems. 

Tinker reaffirms that all of the ambassadors have received training for things as mental health to sexual assault. The ambassadors have been taught to understand the significance of some of the situations students might share with them and when it is time to go to an adult for additional support.

Their ultimate goal is to keep the Peer Center open all day every day, but until that can be achieved the Peer Center will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays during the third and fourth periods. It opens on Tuesday, February 20.